(L-R) James Butts, Mayor of Inglewood; Councilwoman Jan Perry; Ninth District Candidate Curren Price; Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell; Senator Kevin DeLeon; Assemblymember Reginald Sawyer-Jones; former Councilman Dave Cunningnham and Assemblymember Anthony Rendon.
(Sentinel File Photo)
In a celebration hosted at campaign headquarters, leading candidate in
May 21 runoff election rallies supporters toward victory on election day.
With one month to go before election day, a large crowd turned out Saturday April 20 to officially launch the runoff election campaign of Sen. Curren Price — as the leading 9th District candidate for Los Angeles City Council told supporters that he will carry his promise of leadership, experience and integrity all the way to victory on May 21.
With dozens of campaign volunteers and dignitaries on hand at campaign headquarters, located at 4707 S. Broadway in the heart of the 9th District, Price told the assembled crowd that he is making his mission to “build and expand on the legacy” being left by outgoing Councilwoman Jan Perry.
The sitting councilwoman, who was among the speakers on Saturday, urged those in attendance to send Price to succeed her at City Hall. Heeding that call, dozens of Price campaign volunteers spent the day walking neighborhoods in every corner of the 9th District, speaking to their neighbors about the senator’s commitment to creating jobs and ensuring that the district receives its fair share of city services.
“I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves,” said Price, after several speakers — including Perry, L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson Jr., State Senator Kevin DeLeon, Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman Holly Mitchell, Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer and former 9th District city council candidate David Roberts and retired 9th District Councilman Dave Cunningham — spoke of their deep support for his campaign. “As I’ve said so many times, our volunteers and supporters are the heart of this campaign, and this is our time to get to work. May 21st is going to be an exciting day in the new 9th District, but we’re going to need all of your support to get across the finish line — for you, this city and most of all, the 9th District.”
Calling the needs of the 9th District “very profound,” Lara said Price is right man to represent the district, because the senator “is a good brother for all of us, no matter where we come from or the color of our skin. Curren has been a good friend of mine from day one, and I know what he is about. I know his core values.”
Among the volunteers who crowded into the campaign office, before fanning out to speak to voters about the Price message: Yadira Hernandez, a 9th District resident and vice president of Life After Uncivil Ruthless Acts (LAURA). She supports Price, she said, because “he will represent all people in the 9th District,” and deliver the kind of leadership at City Hall that her community needs and deserves.
“Our district has so many needs, and we need a leader like Sen. Price at City Hall,” said Hernandez. “Someone with a strong record of addressing the issues of public safety, economic development and jobs that are so important to me and my community.”
Mitchell, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, echoed those sentiments, calling Price “the right man, at the right time” for the 9th District. “We all have a role to play to make sure this campaign is successful,” she said, “and to let the senator know we all have his back to push him across the finish line on May 21.”
Wesson, who said he supports the Price campaign “7,000 percent,” said “Election Night belongs to the voters, and … it makes a lot of sense to bring someone back to city government who has experience in city government.” Price, he noted, “was the last person to enter the race, but because of you, he wound up in first place” in the March primary election.
Indeed, as election day draws closer, Price has established a substantial advantage in both endorsements and fundraising. Since the March 5 primary election, Price raised $112,529.99 from contributors, compared to just $25,744.95 raised by its opponent.
“The excitement behind this campaign is amazing, and I am both humbled and energized by the depth and breadth of support we have attracted,” said Price. “The people of Southeast L.A. are responding in overwhelming numbers to the promise of a ‘New 9th District,’ and I am determined to hit the ground running at City Hall.”
The Price campaign is supported by a broad coalition of leaders and organizations that are standing strongly behind his vision for the “new 9th District.” They include the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; the L.A. County Democratic Party; L.A. Jobs Political Action Committee (L.A. JOBS PAC), sponsored by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce; the California Chamber of Commerce; the Central City Association of Los Angeles; Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas; L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson Jr.; L.A. City Councilwoman Jan Perry of the 9th District; State Sen. Alex Padilla; legendary labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta; the Los Angeles Police Protective League; United Firefighters of Los Angeles City; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); AFSCME Local 685; United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA); Unite Here; United Farm Workers; the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Stonewall Democrats; State Sen. Kevin de Leon; Congressman Tony Cardenas; Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod; former State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez; Latino Legislative Caucus Chair Ricardo Lara; the entire Legislative Black Caucus; Congresswoman Karen Bass; retired Congresswoman Diane Watson; State Sen. Carol Liu; State State Sen. Ron Calderon; State Sen. Ted Lieu; Ruben Guerra, chairman of the Latin Business Association; and the Asian Business Coalition.
